DENITRIFICATION ‘WOODCHIP’ · DENITRIFICATION ‘WOODCHIP’ BIOREACTORS FOR NITRATE TREATMENT Laura Christianson, Ph.D. The Conservation Fund SERA-17 2014 Annual Meeting

DENITRIFICATION ‘WOODCHIP’ BIOREACTORS FOR NITRATE TREATMENT Laura Christianson, Ph.D.

The Conservation Fund

SERA-17 2014 Annual Meeting 22-25 July 2014 – Des Moines, Iowa

SERA-17 2014 Annual Meeting

Wood-Based Enhanced-Denitrification

Millenium Ecosystem

Assessment, 2005

Diaz and Rosenburg,

2008

• Need to transform reactive nitrogen to reduce the global nitrogen cascade – Hypoxic zones – Human health – Balance with food production

• History • Canada

– Alternative septic-system design – Tile drainage treatment

• New Zealand – Groundwater treatment


• Need to transform reactive nitrogen to reduce the global nitrogen cascade – Hypoxic zones – Human health

• Balance with food production • History • Canada

– Alternative septic-system design – Tile drainage treatment

• New Zealand – Groundwater treatment


(Source: Matt Collins,

Scientific American)



• Need to transform reactive nitrogen to reduce the global nitrogen cascade – Hypoxic zones – Human health

• Balance with food production • Opportunity to enhance

denitrification in the landscape – Carbon source – Anoxic conditions – Terminal electron acceptor: nitrate

• Novel wood-based designs in the 1990’s

𝟓𝑪 + 𝟒𝑵𝑶𝟑− + 𝟐𝑯𝟐𝑶 =

𝑵𝟐+𝟒𝑯𝑪𝑶𝟑− + 𝑪𝑶𝟐


Christianson and Helmers, 2011


Other Wood-based Applications


Bioreactor Location Installed Drainage

Area (ha)

Design Flow Rate

(gpm)

L x W x D

(m)

Vol.

(m3)

L:W

Greene Co. Central Iowa Aug. 2008 19.0 (47 ac) 90-130 gpm 15.2 x 7.6 x 1.1 127 2.0

Hamilton Co. Central Iowa June 2009 20.2 (50 ac) 40-90 gpm 30.5 x 3.7 x 0.9 102 8.3

Research Farm Northeast

Iowa April 2009 14.2 (35 ac) 20-70 gpm

36.6 x 2.4

(bottom) x 1.0 128 15.3

Three drainage bioreactors in Iowa

Christianson et al., 2012 (Trans. ASABE); Project partner: Iowa Soybean Association




Area (ha)

Design Flow Rate

(gpm)

L x W x D

(m)

Vol.

(m3)

L:W




Iowa April 2009 14.2 (35 ac) 20-70 gpm

36.6 x 2.4

(bottom) x 1.0 128 15.3

Christianson et al., 2012 (Trans. ASABE); Project partner: Iowa Soybean A.



Christianson et al., 2012 (Trans. ASABE)


Area (ha)

Design Flow Rate

(gpm)

L x W x D

(m)

Vol.

(m3)

L:W




Iowa April 2009 14.2 (35 ac) 20-70 gpm

36.6 x 2.4

(bottom) x 1.0 128 15.3


Where have wood-based enhanced-denitrification technologies been used?

http://www.artificialnsinks.org/


Source Site Influent

NO3--N Conc.

Percent Reduction

Nitrate-N Removal Rate

van Driel et al., 2006 Ontario, Canada 11.8 mg/L -- 2.5 g N/m2/d

Jaynes et al., 2008 Central Iowa 19.1 to 25.3 mg/L 40% - 65% 0.62 g N/m3/d

Woli et al., 2010 East-Central Illinois 2.8 to 18.9 mg/L 23% - 50% 6.4 g N/m3/d

Christianson et al., 2012 Central Iowa 1.2 to 8.5 mg/L 22% - 74% 0.4-3.8 g N/m3/d

Christianson et al., 2012 Northeast Iowa 9.9 to 13.2 mg/L 12% - 14% 0.9-1.6 g N/m3/d



Wood-based Denitrification Performance

Christianson et al., 2012 (Applied Eng. In Ag.)


Factors affecting nitrate removal

Sample Date

Flow rate

(L min-1)

Retention time*

(hours)

Water temp. (° C)

Inlet DO

(mg/L)

N load reduction (% Mass)

May 17 43 5.3 8.9 3.39 10.8

May 30 59 4.1 10.1 6.27 7.16

June 29 46 4.6 13.9 5.77 11.1

July 28 6.0 22 16.9 4.97 69.5

August 24 2.9 44 17.1 2.65 100.0 *Modified based upon conservative tracer testing

Christianson et al., 2013 (Eco. Eng. 52: 298-307)


HRT is a primary reactor design parameter

Hydraulic Retention Time (τ)

• ρ is the porosity of the packing media

• Total porosity vs. effective/drainable porosity

• V is the active reactor volume • Q is the volumetric flow rate through

the reactor.

Q

V

Courtesy: MnDrive Bioreactor Project, University of Minnesota


Christianson and Helmers, 2011 Illustration by John Petersen



Example Inflow: 5 mg/L Dissolved Oxygen 15 mg/L Nitrate-N

Example Outflow: 0 mg/L Dissolved Oxygen

3 mg/L Nitrate-N

Example Internal Sample: 0 mg/L Dissolved Oxygen

15 mg/L Nitrate-N

Retention Time: Ideal

(ideal flow rate)





12 mg/L Nitrate-N

Example Internal Sample: 0 mg/L Dissolved Oxygen

15 mg/L Nitrate-N

Retention Time: Too short

(high flow rate)





0 mg/L Nitrate-N

Example Internal Sample #1: 0 mg/L Dissolved Oxygen

15 mg/L Nitrate-N

Example Internal Sample #2: 0 mg/L Dissolved Oxygen

0 mg/L Nitrate-N

Retention Time: Too long

(slow flow rate)



Sample Date

Flow rate

(L min-1)

Retention time*

(hours)

Water temp. (° C)

Inlet DO

(mg/L)

N load reduction (% Mass)

May 17 43 5.3 8.9 3.39 10.8

May 30 59 4.1 10.1 6.27 7.16

June 29 46 4.6 13.9 5.77 11.1

July 28 6.0 22 16.9 4.97 69.5

August 24 2.9 44 17.1 2.65 100.0 *Modified based upon conservative tracer testing



http://www.gardeningblog.net http://news.cals.wisc.edu/energy/2011/11/16/forage-know-how-gives-wisconsin-farmers-an-edge-in-growing-biomass/ http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2009/11/walnut-shell-turtles.html http://www.ohnuts.com/buy.cfm/bulk-nuts-seeds/almonds/raw-in-shell

• Many organic carbon sources have been trialed: – Shredded newspaper – Cardboard fibers – Almond and walnut shells – Barley straw – Wheat straw – Corn cobs – Corn stover – Date palm leaves – Rice husks – Pine bark – Pine needles – Mulch/compost/green waste

• Woody media: – Low cost – Physical, chemical, and biological

properties – Durability

http://www.needhamag.com/innovative_product_sales/residue_management_solutions.php http://www.delange.org/PalmPhoenix/PalmPhoenix.htm

http://green-earth-aerogel.es/photos.htm http://www.mushroomsource.ca/shredded-cardboard-for-mushrooms.html

Why woodchips?


What do bioreactors cost?

Average: $152.07/ac Christianson et al., 2012 (Trans. ASABE)

Christianson et al., 2013


What is the life?

• Life estimated at 10 to 20 years • Stoichiometric estimates: 20 to >50 yrs • Empirical evidence:

– Robertson et al., 2008: 15 yr septic treatment wall

– Long et al., 2011: 14 yr sawdust groundwater wall

– Moorman et al., 2010: 9 yr woodchip drainage wall

http://smithmeadows.com/farm/daredevil-farming-3/

Moorman et al., 2010

Depth of woodchips


Potential downsides

• Many research questions remain in order to maximize bioreactor performance

• Outflow waters contain organics during start-up

• An incomplete denitrification product is nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas

• Sulfate reduction: bacteria can produce hydrogen sulfide gas at high retention times

• Mercury methylation possible

http://www.math.utah.edu/~cogan/


Potential downsides t=7 hr

t=14 hr

t=21 hr

t=54 hr

Christianson, Unpublished







Potential downsides






Christianson et al., 2013 (ASABE Proceedings)


Potential downsides

YSI, 2008 (www.ysi.com/media/pdfs/A567-ORP-Management-in-Wastewater-as-an-Indicator-of-Process-Efficiency.pdf) http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs109-03/fs109-03.html







Interest continues to grow…

• Good press coverage and outreach • Expansion of technology to new

areas • NRCS acceptance in several states

http://www.semissourian.com/story/2083188.html; http://www.bayjournal.com/article/bioreactor_chips_away_at_nitrogen_running_off_farm_fields;

http://www.minnesotafarmguide.com/news/regional/stress-test-gives-woodchip-bioreactors-passing-grade/article_a0e71f62-c4bf-11e3-9038-0019bb2963f4.html;


Interest continues to grow…

• Good press coverage and outreach • Expansion of technology to new

areas • NRCS acceptance in several states

http://news.cals.vt.edu/innovations/2012/10/curbing-pollution-saving-agriculture/; http://www.segea.se/Rapporter/E4_Segeaa_Draneringsinv_m_bil.pdf

Filterbädd vid Börringe.

Dräneringsrör, makadam, flis, spridarrör och

fördelningsbrunn sysns på bilden.


And new ideas continue to develop…

• New design ideas

• New fill media and revisiting ag. residues

• Treatment of new kinds of waters

• Removal of other contaminants

• Pairing with P technologies

Zhang and Magner, 2014 (J Geol Geosci); Kata Sharrer, The Conservation Fund



G. Feyereisen, USDA ARS; Christianson et al., 2011 FLRC Proceedings






Biochar








Aquaculture (effluent or supernatant from

solids settling cones)

Agricultural drainage (subsurface)

Nitrate (mg N/L)

≈50->200 ≈5-30








http://www.asmr.us/Publications/Conference%20Proceedings/2010/papers/0914-Rutkowski-CO-2.pdf; http://www.seleniumtaskforce.org/images/Se_Pilot_Bioreactor_Final_Report.pdf








http://artnsinks.apps.uri.edu/images/Kleinman/Slide1.JPG: P. Kleinman, USDA ARS; G. Goodwin, 2012, Thesis Univ. IL;

K. King, USDA ARS; Penn et al., 2013: http://www.extension.org/pages/67669/designing‐structures‐to‐removephosphorus...;


Acknowledgements

• Cooperative agreement with the USDA ARS (No. 59-1930-5-510)

• MnDrive: University of Minnesota; Dr. Gary Feyereisen (USDA ARS)

• Midshore Riverkeepers Conservancy (Easton, MD)

• Tides Canada

• The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

• UDSA NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2011-67011-30648

• GNC09-103 from the USDA SARE North Central Region Graduate Student Grant Program

• Keegan Kult and Todd Sutphin at the Iowa Soybean Association – Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance

– The Sand County Foundation

• Coldwater Palmer Watershed Association

More information [email protected]

Documents

DENITRIFICATION ‘WOODCHIP’ · DENITRIFICATION ‘WOODCHIP’ BIOREACTORS FOR NITRATE TREATMENT Laura Christianson, Ph.D. The Conservation Fund SERA-17 2014 Annual Meeting